Confusion over when Assange will leave embassy

London - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Monday he
would "soon" leave Ecuador's embassy in London but his organisation
played down the comment, saying he would not depart until there was an
agreement with Britain's government.

A pale and bearded Assange, who sought asylum at the embassy
two years ago, told a press conference: "I can confirm I will be leaving
the embassy soon."

His comments came after British media reported, quoting a
WikiLeaks source, that he was suffering from the potentially life-threatening
heart condition arrhythmia and had a chronic lung complaint as well as
dangerously high blood pressure.

Assange, 43, insisted he would not be leaving for the
reasons "reported by the Murdoch press" and did not elaborate further
on how or when any departure would happen.

Agreement

But speaking after the press conference, WikiLeaks spokesperson
Kristinn Hrafnsson indicated that Assange would remain at the embassy until an
agreement was brokered in his case.

"What Julian meant is that his plan is to leave as soon
as the British government honours its commitment," he said.

Assange sought asylum at the embassy in June 2012 to avoid
extradition to Sweden, where he faces allegations of rape and sexual
molestation which he strongly denies.

He fears extradition to Sweden could lead to him being
transferred to the United States to face trial over WikiLeaks' publication of
classified US military and diplomatic documents.

Former US Army private Chelsea Manning - formerly Bradley
Manning - was sentenced to 35 years in prison last year for passing 700 000
classified documents to WikiLeaks.

'Situation must end'

Britain's Foreign Office indicated that its position on
Assange's case remained unchanged and that it remained "as committed as
ever to reaching a diplomatic solution".

"We are clear that our laws must be followed and Mr
Assange should be extradited to Sweden. As ever we look to Ecuador to help
bring this difficult, and costly, situation to an end," a spokesperson
added.

Assange was accompanied at the press conference by Ecuador's
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, who did not mention a plan for Assange to
leave the embassy, but called for the governments involved in his case to take
action.

"The situation must come to an end - two years is
simply too long," Patino said.

"We continue to offer him our protection... we continue
to be ready to talk with the British government and the Swedish government to
find a solution to this serious breach of Julian Assange's human rights."

Costs

Britain funds round-the-clock policing at Ecuador's embassy
in London's upscale Knightsbridge district because of Assange's presence.

In June, Scotland Yard said it had so far spent £6.4m (R113.6m)
on guarding the building.

The embassy offers Assange no outdoor space or direct
sunlight, making for uncomfortable living conditions.

The WikiLeaks founder spoke of his anger at being stuck in
the embassy in an interview with this week's Mail on Sunday, describing how he
could not even "keep a pot plant alive for long in here".

"My stubbornness is my best and my worst quality. I
won't give up," he told the newspaper.